2008 Vauxhall Movano 2.5L Diesel · MM57 FLE

The most recent DVSA test on 10 January 2025 returned a PASS, although it was accompanied by a notable cluster of advisories covering structural corrosion to the floors, chassis rails, under sills, outer sills and inner flitches, along with thinning rear brake pads, a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit, perishing on both rear tyre sidewalls, and a non-excessive oil leak. Taken together with the prior failed test on 8 January 2025, which cited an airbag warning lamp fault, contaminated brake fluid, a missing offside steering rack gaiter, and a split nearside outer drive shaft CV boot, the maintenance trend cannot be described as stable. These failures touch on several safety-critical systems within the space of twelve months, and the airbag warning lamp fault has actually been a recurring major defect, having also caused failures in 2024 and 2022. The combination of structural corrosion advisories that have been carried forward across tests, repeated brake and tyre advisories, and persistent oil leak advisories points to a vehicle that is being kept on the road through minimal repair and is showing its age across multiple areas simultaneously. With 131,911 miles recorded over approximately 18 years, annual usage works out at around 7,328 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a large panel van of this vintage. There are no obvious large gaps in the MOT history and no sudden jumps in mileage that would suggest a clocked odometer or extended periods of standing, so the recorded figure should be a fair reflection of genuine use. That said, a Movano of this age and mileage will have covered many of its miles under load, which accelerates wear on suspension components, brakes, clutch, drivetrain and the commercial-grade engine ancillaries, regardless of the average annual figure. The fact that an oil leak has been flagged in some form at every test since 2021 suggests it is a persistent issue rather than a one-off, and buyers should expect that sealing components and gaskets are likely to require attention in the near future. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the areas flagged across recent tests. The chassis corrosion advisory is now widespread, covering both floors, chassis rails, under sills, outer sills and inner flitches, so a thorough inspection underneath on a ramp is essential to confirm that none of this has progressed beyond the tester’s considered threshold. Check the front nearside lower suspension arm ball joint for any play or knocking, as a slight play was noted in 2022 and these joints deteriorate progressively on a commercial vehicle. Inspect the steering rack gaiters on both sides, the offside one having been completely missing, and check the nearside outer CV boot for splits and grease loss, listening on a test drive for any rhythmic clicking from the front wheels that would indicate a worn CV joint. The brake fluid was found contaminated at the last failed test, so confirm a full fluid flush has been carried out since, and check the rear brake pad wear and the condition of all brake discs for lipping, scoring or binding calipers after the vehicle has been stood. The airbag warning lamp fault, which has now caused three separate failures, must be properly diagnosed and rectified; do not accept a vehicle with the SRS light illuminated or recently reset without independent evidence of repair, as this is a fundamental safety system. On a test drive, listen for any suspension clunks or knocks over uneven roads, particularly from the front, and feel for vagueness or vibration through the steering wheel that might suggest a worn steering rack following the gaiter failure. Monitor the dashboard for any recurrence of the airbag warning lamp, and verify the operation of all brake lights, the horn, registration plate lamps and the rear fog lamp, as several of these have previously failed outright. The oil leak, although consistently classed as not excessive, warrants a check of the engine and gearbox underside for fresh residues and a top-up of oil levels before any long journey. With the vehicle now being 18 years old, even if the MOT record were entirely clean, attention should be given to age-related deterioration including tyre sidewall perishing, brake disc surface corrosion from standing, the condition of coolant and power steering fluids, the 12V battery health, and the integrity of rubber hoses and bushes throughout the underbonnet area. A pre-purchase inspection by a commercial vehicle specialist, ideally with the vehicle on a ramp, is strongly recommended given the cumulative weight of structural, safety and drivetrain advisories on file.